Both properties are conveniently located 15 minutes from beautiful Spruce Pine, NC. Additionally, both properties are located 45 miles away from Blowing Rock, NC; 53 miles away from Asheville, NC; and 28 away from Johnson, TN.

History of Spruce Pine, NC

Spruce Pine was founded in 1907 when the Clinchfield Railroad made its way down the North Toe River from Erwin, Tennessee. The town was originally centered around a tavern operated by Isaac English, located on an old roadway that ran from Cranberry, North Carolina down to Marion, NC. The Old English Inn still stands at its original location near the center of town.

The railroad, combined with a rapidly expanding mining industry (the town is the namesake of the famous Spruce Pine Mining District) made Spruce Pine the largest town in the Toe River Valley, as it became the hub of commerce and culture for the area. Spruce Pine was the home of The Feldspar Company and Spruce Pine Mica, and other major mining interests had operations in and around the town.

With the decline in use of railroads to ship goods, along with increasing automation in the mining industry, the town has recently seen its fortunes dwindle and has undertaken a major effort to reinvent itself. Tourism has become a major economic force in the region, and the town's proximity to the Blue Ridge Parkway, combined with its location near the edge of the Blue Ridge Escarpment has helped make Spruce Pine a travel destination for many.

One of Spruce Pine's most famous natives is children's author Gloria Houston, who was born and raised nearby in the Green Valley community northeast of town. Her Appalachian children's books, set in the region around Spruce Pine, are famous for the quality of their writing and the subjects that they cover. Houston and the Mitchell County Chamber of Commerce have recently undertaken promoting Spruce Pine as being the "Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree," taken from Houston's work "The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree."

University of North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams spent the early years of his life as a resident of Spruce Pine (he was born in Marion, North Carolina August 1, 1950), but moved to Asheville, N.C. as a young boy.

Spruce Pine is centrally located to many of the areas biggest attractions including: The Blue Ridge Parkway, Mineral Museum and Visitor’s Center, Emerald Village, Gem Mountain, Rio Dolce Mining, Spruce Pine Gems, Anita’s Gems, The Gem Shop, Mt Mitchell State Park, Linville Falls, Grandfather Mountain, Roan Mountain, The Appalachian Trail, the Mountains to Sea Trail, Linville Gorge Wilderness Area, the major North Carolina ski resorts and much more.

Spruce Pine is midway between Boone and Asheville making this an ideal spot to visit and roam the mountains.


Things to do

Rivers Edge Outfitters offers self guided canoeing, kayaking and tubing river trips on the scenic Toe River in Western North Carolina. The canoeing and kayaking river trips range from 2 hours up to all day.

Located in Spruce Pine,NC between Asheville and Boone, River’s Edge Outfitters is a full service fly shop and fly fishing guide service uniquely situated near some of the finest trout streams in the Southeast.

Whether you're a beginner looking to catch your first trout on a fly or an expert in search of challenging wild browns, River’s Edge Outfitters has the expertise to make your trip a success. We also host smallmouth float fishing trips from early spring through late fall, with most of our fisherman catching 50 plus smallies per trip!

If you're looking for a great fly fishing trip be sure to give us a call! 828.765.FISH (3474) or email info@flyshopnc.com.

Grocery Stores

Ingles Markets Inc
125 Greenwood Rd Spruce Pine, NC (828) 765-7997

Walmart Supercenter (30 miles away in Spruce Pine)
2514 Halltown Rd Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 766-9991 (828) 766-6665 (828) 766-8456

Restaurants

Crabtree Meadows Coffee Shop
Blue Ridge Parkway, Milepost 339.5 P.O. Box 175 Little Switzerland, NC 28749 (828) 675-4236 Fax: (828) 675-4236 Crabtree Meadows Restaurant and Gift Shop offer an exceptional selection of crafts and distinctive handmade gifts overlooking the surrounding mountains along the Blue Ridge Parkway. You can choose from a variety of pancakes, refreshments and sandwiches at the Restaurant, and select from supplies and snacks at the Camp Store, which services the nearby campground.

Creekside Restaurant
215 Crimson Laurel Way Bakersville, NC 28705 (828) 688-9250

Dot's Coffee and Tea Shoppe
North Mitchell Avenue Bakersville, NC 28705 (828) 688-3789 Coffee, tea, pastries, salads, soup and sandwiches.

Grassy Creek Golf & Country Club
Hwy 226 at the Grassy Creek Golf Course 2360 Swiss Pine Lake Drive Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-6589 Fax: (828) 765-7605

Mountain View Restaurant
Hwy 226S & the Blue Ridge Parkway Little Switzerland, NC 28749 (828) 766-9670 All meals are prepared fresh and to order. Enjoy our breathtaking deck view of the mountains of western North Carolina.

The Skyline Village Inn
12255 NC 226A At the intersection of NC 226 and NC 226A Highway 226A at Milepost 331 PO Box 150 Little Switzerland, NC 28749 (828) 765-9394 or (704) 517-6374 Open year-round, with 60 seats in the restaurant and 15 rooms. History of Skyline, good place for trout fishermen, motorcyclist, bicyclist and motorist.

Switzerland Café and General Store
Hwy 226-A PO Box 209 Little Switzerland, NC 28749 (828) 765-5289 Fax: (828) 765-7095 Café serves sandwiches, soups & homemade bread. Weekend Dinners serving steaks, fresh trout & pasta. Zackery’s Brew Pub on 2nd level offers games, TV & traditional pub food as well as live music on weekends. General Store specializes in Imported Wines & Cheeses, Handcrafted Beers, fair trade coffee and crafts.

The Chalet at the Switzerland Inn
Milepost 334 on Blue Ridge Parkway Little Switzerland, NC 28749 (828) 765-2153 Fax: (828) 765-0049 A bit of Switzerland in North Carolina. Enjoy fine dining, superb accommodations, unique shopping and one of the most spectacular mountain views in the region. Located directly on the Blue Ridge Parkway near Milepost 334 at the Little Switzerland exit.

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant
288 Oak Avenue Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-5514 A special oriental dining experience awaits you! We are open 7 days a week from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. We have a large dining area, and can accommodate both small and large groups.

Upper Street Café
198 Oak Avenue Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-0622 A place where you can dine in or out. The place to come if you want good food at a reasonable cost. The atmosphere is very laid back. Come as you are. We have food ranging from your basic grilled cheese to a delicious shrimp dinner.

Western Sizzlin’ Steakhouse
11961 South 226 Highway Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-9151 Fax: (828) 765-9462

DT's Blue Ridge Java
169 Locust Street Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 766-8008 Ice Cream and Coffee Bars available. Cappuccino, Latte, Espresso, Pastries, Smoothies, Chocolates and Much, Much More!


Specialty Shops

The Blue Ridge Soap Shed
179 Meadow View Road Spruce Pine, NC 28777 Phone: (877) 40-4-SOAP or (828) 765-6001 Fax: (828) 765-0189 Retail Shoppe Open 10-5 Daily, May-Dec. Web & Mail Orders Year Round. Blue Ridge Parkway Milepost 331.

The Art and Frame Gallery
266 Oak Avenue Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-9007 Fax: (828) 765-9007 Featuring top artists: Kinkade, Redlin, Timberlake, D. Morgan, Buswell, Bush and many more. Country and elegant home decor: lamps, baskets, accent furniture, plates, brass, custom picture framing, a wide assortment of frames.


Book Stores

Blue Moon Books
271 Oak Avenue Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 766-5000 Fax: (828) 766-5577 An independent new and used bookstore, featuring books about our area and regional authors.

Dellinger's Christian Book Store and Gift Shoppe
225 Locust Avenue Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-7188 Fax: (828) 765-7187 "Hallmark Cards & Gifts, Avery & Mitchell County Afghans, Bibles, Christian Books, Local Books, Christian Music, CD's, Cassettes, videos, Songbooks. Special Occasion Gifts, Wedding, Birthday, Baby. Home Decor-Tabletop Accessories, Collectables, Seraphim Angels by Romans-Boyd's Bears, Precious Moments Dolls & Figurines. Thomas Kinkade, Barbie dolls, Sanrio. Free Gift Wrapping. Special Orders.

Little Switzerland Book Exchange
PO Box 448 9432 NC Hwy 226A Little Switzerland, NC 28749 (828) 765-9070 Fax: (828) 765-9070 Over 60,000 new, used and rare books. Also, representing original art work from regional artists. Book signings and readings held monthly.


Orchards

The Orchard at Altapass
Milepost 328.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway PO Box 265 Little Switzerland, NC 28749 (828) 765-9531 Historic Orchard at Altapass on Orchard Road, Milepost 328.4 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Fresh apples and peaches July to November (you pick or we pick), fresh baked goods, free tours of orchard, music, history, tall tales, and hay rides by request on Saturdays. Music, pickin' and singin', come join in at historic Orchard at Altapass.


Pottery

Fork Mountain Pottery
1782 Fork Mountain Road Bakersville, NC 28705 (828) 688-9297 Pottery studio with attached showroom featuring the work of Suze Lindsay and Kent McLaughlin. High fired utilitarian pottery using stoneware clay and porcelain clay fired in a salt and reduction kiln.

Potters of the Roan
P.O. Box 554 Bakersville, NC 28705 (828) 688-3386

Sedberry Pottery
344 NC 80 Bakersville, NC 28705 (828) 688-3386 Sedberry Pottery has been in operation since 1982 and is located near infamous Loafers' Glory! Ken Sedberry creates one-of-a-kind tableware and sinks as well as large wall sculptures, carved chargers, etc. suitable for home and office decor. Each piece is handmade and fired in a Korean style wood fired kiln. Open daily from 10 AM to 6 PM. Call ahead if demonstration is desired. Groups welcome.

Sharpless Pottery
1280 Chestnut Mountain Road Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-7809 Stoneware, functional pottery meant to be used and enjoyed in daily life. Dishwasher/ microwave safe.

The Pot Hole
462 Ohle Road Burnsville, NC 28714 (828) 675-5217 Handmade functional pottery, high fire stoneware, colorful decoration, commemorative pieces available & special orders welcome. Meet the potter, tour the studio & see the pots being made. Tour the adjacent gardens and enjoy the flowers and beautiful mountain views.


Wood Craft

Parkway Woodworks
312 Pine Branch Rd. Spruce Pine,NC 28777 (828) 385-3878

Primitive Designs
314 Cold Springs Road Burnsville, NC 28714 (828) 678-9968

Gem Mining

Blue Ridge Gemstone Mine
PO Box 327 Little Switzerland, NC 28749 (828) 765-5264 Cell Phone: 828 606-7471 Located at 626 McKinney Mine Road. Open April through November. Gemstone mining, 30 different kind of gem buckets. Gemstone cutting, 35 years experience. GIA trained Gemologist, 33 years experience. Finish Jewelry. Mounting SS and gold. Cut gemstones ready to mount. Largest selection in WNC.

Emerald Village
PO Box 98 Little Switzerland, NC 28749 (828) 765-6463 Fax: (828) 765-4367 Real mines, mine tours and gem mining.

Gem Mountain Gemstone Mine
13780 Hwy 226 South PO Box 488 Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-6130 Fax: (828) 765-0866

Jerry Call, Inc.
PO Box 296 Little Switzerland, NC 28749 (828) 765-2099

Spruce Pine Gem & Gold Mine
15090 Hwy 226, at the Blue Ridge Parkway Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-7981 82 Hwy 226 S and Exit 331 on the Blue Ridge Parkway. Mine for native gemstones with one of the oldest mining families in North Carolina, documented by the National Geographic Magazine, mining the area since 1810. Featured on PBS and in Readers Digest. Open year-round with covered flumes. Heated indoor flume in winter with warm water. Gem cutting and custom jewelry design, gift and souvenir shop.

The Emerald Mine
P.O. Box 249 Little Switzerland, NC 28749 (828) 765-6832 Fax: (828) 765-1695 At the Emerald Mine we invite you to enjoy the experience of finding genuine rough gemstones, either by washing them out of buckets in our flume or by digging them from the ground. We can turn them into beautiful jewelry and you can also pan for real gold. We will provide information about mining in our country since 1861.


Gem Mine Tours

The Rock Mine Tours
4075 East U.S. Highway 19-E Burnsville, NC 28714 (828) 675-0004 Dig for local minerals and gems in our mines. Absolutely safe-all above ground. Tour begins at the Silver Bullet Convenience Store in Micaville, NC. It is twice daily - 10:00 AM and 2:00 PM. You will follow the tour guide's vehicle in your own car to the mine parking area. Keep what you find. For reservations dial (828) 675-0004.


Art Galleries

TRAC
http://www.toeriverarts.org

Anita's Atelier
PO Box 507 Bakersville, NC 28705 (828) 688-1717 Fine art, Limited Edition Prints, Locally made crafts , pottery and baskets, dools, quilts, woodwork, etc. We also have antiques, unusual small primitives, rockers, chests and all nice pieces are in excellent condition.

Arts Centered/ Picket Fence Gallery
P.O. Box 427 37 Mitchell Ave. Bakersville, NC 28705 (828) 688-9192 Gallery with watercolors, functional pottery & sculpture adjacent to arts and crafts classroom for general public and special events.

Crimson Laurel Gallery
P.O. Box 863 31 Crimson Laurel Way Bakersville, NC 28705 (828) 688-3599

Cynthia Bringle's Gallery
160 Lucy Morgan Lane Penland, NC 28765 (828) 765-0240

Fyreglas Studio
222 Mine Creek Road Bakersville, NC 28705 (828) 688-5871 Fyreglas Studio is a hot glass studio working in blown, fused and cast glass. It is operated by a retired Batallion Chief from Miami-Dade Fire & Rescue.

Glassworks
1781 Altapass Hwy Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-5308 Gallery of glass art created by Gary Beecham and Mary Lynn White in their Spruce Pine studio. Large sculptural pieces, painted vessels and blown work with mica inclusions or mosaic-like images made from glass rods. Site includes resume, working photo and artist statement with links to national galleries. Fused glass jewelry and paperweights available but not currently featured on site.

Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree
262 Oak Avenue, in historic downtown Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765 0571 Make the Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree a part of your travel plans. Visit our Home of the Perfect Christmas Tree retail store in historic downtown Spruce Pine, North Carolina. While you’re here, you can also visit other sites from the book, and choose and cut your own Christmas tree. We invite you to enjoy our beautiful mountains, outdoor recreation and hundreds of artists’ studios.

Melawil's Gallery
201B Locust Street Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-6499 Original designs. In wood -- windows in pine or wood stained glass; totally original translucent wood on glass; unusual boxes in cedar and pine using natural shapes of wood as much as possible. Gem stone jewelry, wire wraps, sterling silver and Swarovski crystal.

Penland School and Art Gallery
Hwy 226 North of Spruce Pine, left of Penland Road Penland, NC 28765 (828) 765-2359 Fax: (828) 765-7389

Toe River Arts Council - TRAC
PO Box 826 269 Oak Avenue Spruce Pine, NC 28777 (828) 765-0520 or (828) 682-7215 Fax: (828) 765-0520 or (828) 682-7215 The Toe River Arts Council promotes the arts through programs and services to local schools and the community. The Arts Council also owns and operates the TRAC Center in downtown Spruce Pine. Exhibits, performances and arts information can be found there.